John Burton Advocates For Youth

JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH (JBAY) IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS BY ADVOCATING FOR BETTER LAWS, TRAINING COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL PRACTICES AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICY SOLUTIONS.

IN FY 2022, JBAY MADE PROGRESS IN EACH OF ITS THREE PROGRAM AREAS: EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND HEALTH.EDUCATION: JBAY WORKS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. IN 2021-22, JBAY WORKED TOWARDS THIS GOAL BY PURSUING A RANGE OF STRATEGIES: COLLEGE PREPARATION: JBAY ENSURES YOUTH ARE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE BY ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGES AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES THAT CAN BE USED BY PROFESSIONALS TO ASSIST YOUTH IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE. AVAILABLE RESOURCES INCLUDE A COLLEGE PLANNING WEBSITE, EDUCATIONAL PLANNING GUIDES, TRAINING CURRICULA AND A RANGE OF WEBINARS. FINANCIAL AID ACCESS: IN FY 22, JBAY CONDUCTED THE CALIFORNIA FOSTER YOUTH FAFSA CHALLENGE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATON. IN FY 22, JBAY EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO ASSIST SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SUPPORTING FOSTER YOUTH ON CAMPUS: JBAY WORKED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CAMPUS SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER YOUTH, WHICH PROVIDE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. COLLEGE STUDENT HOMELESSNESS: JBAY HELPED COLLEGE CAMPUSES IMPLEMENT NEWLY AVAILABLE PUBLIC FUNDING TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS. HOUSING: JBAY IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE HOUSING REMAINS IN REACH FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS. THROUGH ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND RESEARCH, JBAY ESTABLISHES AND EXPANDS FUNDING AND STRENGTHENS PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AMONG YOUTH. IN 2021-22, JBAY WORKED TOWARD THIS GOAL BY PURSUING THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES: TRANSITIONING FOSTER YOUTH: JBAY WORKED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE HOUSING NAGIVATION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM BY ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND BY INCREASING THE UPPER AGE OF ELGIBILTY FROM 24 TO 25. JBAY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PLANNING GRANTS TO HOUSING PROVIDERS TO HELP THEM MAKE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS TO NEWLY AVAILABLE STATE FUNDING FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. JBAY HELPED LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IMPLEMENT A NEWLY CREATED RATE SUPPLEMENT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT FOR NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS (THP-NMD), WHICH SERVES YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE. ECONOMIC HEALTH: JBAY LED A SIX COUNTY PILOT TO PROMOTE TAX FILING AMONG CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE CREATION OF THE FOSTER YOUTH TAX CREDIT, A $1,000 REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT. ADDITIONALLY, JBAY LED AN EFFORT IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO PROMOTE TAX FILING AMONG CUSTODIAL PARENTS IN FOSTER CARE, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL RESOUCES TO LIFT THEM FROM POVERTY. FINALLY, JBAY LAUCHED THE CRITICAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITY FUND, WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS, AGE 16 TO 26.